Whiteface Mountain / Lake Placid Ski Vacation Guide

Lake Placid receives 170 inches of fine Eastern powder each year and has been a breeding ground for Olympic champions for decades, thus it is rightly regarded as one of the finest resorts in the East.

Ski Levels

Whiteface's windy slopes offer superb choices for the expert skier on Skyward, Approach, Empire, Essex, Upper Northway, and Cloudspin. Intermediates will find that they have all they can handle on Paron's Run, The Follies, and Excelsior. There's two separate areas of terrain for beginners and children to perfect their skills on, The Kids Kampus at Easy Acres and the Mixing Bowl.

Lake Placid is one the best Eastern ski resorts for children and first-time freestyle skiers. The Kid's Park on Bronze is a fantastic terrain park for kids to start on features that are suited to their size and skill level. They will find all sorts of child-sized bumps, mini-jumps, rollers, a mini-halfpipe, and even some safe PVC rails. Beginner adult skiers will want to head for the Lower Valley Mini-Park, which is a neophyte's dream terrain park, including mini-tables, small hits, rails, and boxes. The intermediate to expert skier has more artificial features than any other park at Lake Placid. The Bear Super Pipe and 79 Railpark is a fully enclosed railpark with multiple lines; Lower Thruway has multiple rails, table tops, hits, and many more challenging features; Brookside Park is an absolutely unbelievable world-class terrain park that will test any skier’s skills. Best of all, Lake Placid's Superpipe is the site of several international championship challenges.

Whiteface's Ski School is internationally renowned and offers famous courses for all ages and experience levels such as Parallel From The Start and the Burton Learn To Ride Program, as well as the Ski/Ride To Perfection Program. There highly trained professionals have the tools and techniques to help advanced skiers and riders master tough new tricks or help build confidence and the fundamentals for new skiers and riders. Whatever the obstacle, Whiteface’s ski school instructors are up to the challenge.

Après Ski

The Lake Placid area has some of the finest selections of restaurants you'll find at any ski resort anywhere. For guests on a budget, the best eateries are the Downtown Diner, The New Leaf, Chair 6, Mr. Mike's Pizza, Downhill Grill, Desperados, and the local favorite, the Caribbean Cowboy. However, fine dining choices are bountiful as well, including romantic slopeside dining replete with panoramic views of the stunning Adirondack scenery.

Guests at Whiteface Lake Placid have the amazing opportunity to careen down the mountain on the half-mile bobsled course or experience the Luge Rocket at Mount Vanhoevenberg Sports Complex. The site of two greatest Winter Olympics, Lake Placid is the place to live out Olympian fantasies. skate on the ice of the Olympic Speed Skating Oval or tour the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex's chairlift and elevator ride to view the impossibly steep and long ski jump ramp. If those activities aren’t enough thrills, take a truly extreme toboggan run on Mirror Lake which has some eye-opening descents and milder hills for the kids.

Another huge draw to the area is The Saranac Winter Carnival and Ice Palace which are not to be missed. Each year since just before 1900, locals have volunteered to make a huge palace out of massive blocks of ice cut from the frozen lake. The palaces include throne rooms and chambers and now tower over 50 feet tall! The week-long festival has tons of fun and interesting activities and things to see.

A place that is impressive enough to host the Olympics not once but twice is going to be brimming with activities, sights, events and fun for all ages! A unforgettable adventure awaits you at Whiteface Lake Placid, which is closer than you think. The region is easily accessible by car from New York City, Buffalo, Boston, Albany and Toronto. They are conveniently located within 2 hours of three international airports; Albany, New York; Burlington, Vermont; and Montreal, Quebec. People who prefer public transportation can choose from either the Adirondack Trailways bus or Amtrak both of which operate out of New York City with stops throughout the Adirondacks.

Whiteface Mountain / Lake Placid Snowboard Vacation Guide

Rider’s Guide

Lake Placid is the archetypal winter sports resort with a total of 10 lifts that take guests up to more than 76 trails, where riders can shred on one of the longest runs in the Northeast, a full 18,480 feet! The resort averages about 200 inches of powder and has 90% snowmaking abilities on their groomed runs, acres and acres of inbounds off piste riding as well as extensive and exhilarating tree skiing. The trails are rated 20% for beginners, 36% for intermediates, and 44% for advanced. But really, a resort good enough to host the Olympics twice is going to have a whole lot more than just some great skiing terrain.

Parks and Pipes

The Kid’s Park on Bronze is a great terrain park for kids to start off with bumps, rollers, a mini-halfpipe and even a PVC rail or two that’s suited to their size and skill level. The Lower Valley Mini-Park is a novice terrain park for adults that includes mini-tables, rails, and boxes. The Bear Superpipe and 79 Railpark is an enclosed railpark with multiple lines and bass–heavy sound system. Hang out, hike it, or head down to the repositioned and much steeper Zaugg-cut Superpipe, which is the site of the Snowboard World Cup. Lower Thruway has multiple rails, hits, and lots more to keep the intermediate snowboarder busy. Brookside Park is just simply awesome. It is hard to believe that any snowboarding or freestyle skiing expert would not be challenged by Brookline’s innumerable and ever-evolving features.

Out of Bounds

Lake Placid and Whiteface is the location of a phenomenal array of winter activities. For the ultimate winter thrill, speed down the half-mile bobsled rides and Luge Rocket at Mt. Vanhoevenberg Sports Complex. Or take a truly extreme toboggan run on Mirror Lake. Or strap on your skates and speed down the ice of the Olympic Speed Skating Oval. A great activity that will make guests feel fearless without risking their necks is to take the chairlift and elevator ride at the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex where they will be able to see the gargantuan ski jump from the aerial skier’s perspective.

Hangout & Hookup

Steinhoff’s and R.F. McDougall’s are the best choices near the Whiteface slopes for lively après ski action. The Lake Placid Pub and Brewery is always happy to quench riders and skiers thirst after a full day on the mountain. For a wider selection of microbrews, check out the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery. Wiseguys is part sports bar part dance club and part restaurant and a whole lot of fun.

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